NCAA panel approves change to targeting penalty

Posted: March 6, 2014 - 8:37pm

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An NCAA panel has approved a change to the targeting foul that would wipe out the 15-penalty when video review overturns the ejection of a player.

The targeting rule was implemented by the NCAA last season. When a player was flagged for targeting an opponent’s head with a hit, he was disqualified from the game and his team penalized 15 yards. The foul was reviewed by replay officials and the ejection could be overturned — but the 15-yard penalty stood. This confused players, coaches and fans.

The football rules committee last month passed a proposal to no longer enforce the 15-yard penalty when the ejection is overturned, as long as another foul has not been committed. The playing rules oversight panel approved it Thursday.